Remotely operated earth moving toy

ABSTRACT

A mechanical toy is provided, electrically operated by remote control, for scooping up sand or other finely divided material, transporting it to a desired destination, and there depositing it. The toy includes several reversible motors, all driven from a common source of power, all controlled through associated switches which form parts of a single control unit, and all concerned with the steering and driving of a vehicle, and/or the scooping up, the transportation of, and the depositing at a desired destination, of sand or like material through the informed manipulation of the switches.

United States Patent 1 1 3,6 1,681 Gagnon [451 Sept. 19, 1972 [s41 REMOTELY OPERATED EARTH MOVING TOY [72] lnventor: Robert A. Gagnon, Star Route 2,

Box 944, Trail, Oreg. 97541 [22] Filed: Oct. 14, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 189,145

[52] US. Cl. .;..46/244 A [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 33/26 [58] Field of Search ..46/244 R, 244 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,586,239 2l-l952 MacKebzie ..46/244 A 2,858,642 11/1958 Giardina ..46/244 A 3,181,272 5/1965 Gibson ..46/244 A 3,363,362 l/l968 Jolley ..46/244 A 3,586,870 6/1971 Cwiak ..46/244 A Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney-Clarence M. Crews [5 7] ABSTRACT A mechanical toy is provided, electrically operated by remote control, for scooping up sand or other finely divided material, transporting it to a desired destination, and there depositing it. The toy includes several reversible motors, all driven from a common source of power, all controlled through associated switches which form parts of a single control unit, and all concerned with the steering and driving of a vehicle, and/or the scooping up, the transportation of, and the depositing at a desired destination, of sand or like material through the informed manipulation of the switches.

PATENTED E 3.691.681

sum 1 0r 3 /A/ VEN TOR ROBERT A. GA GNON y MM 72 [WW HIS ATTORNEY //VVENTOR: ROBERTA. GAGNON fZZ amfl/ [WW 1 05 ATTORNEY REMOTELY OPERATED EARTH MOVING TOY This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to electrical toys. Illustratively it relates to a simulated machine for moving sand or like material, which machine would normally be referred to as an articulated front end loader.

Briefly, the illustrative machine comprises front and rear wheeled sections which, for steering purposes, are connected to one another .for relative movement about a vertical axis, a first reversible motor being provided for relatively turning the sections about such vertical axis.

' Separate motors are provided for driving the traction wheels of the front and rear articulated sections, but' these motors are desirably energized through a common switch control means for proper coordination.

A scoop is carried on one of the vehicle sections, the scoop being tiltable by a fourth motor between a material scooping attitude, a material carrying attitude, and a material dumping attitude.

The scoop is carried by a crane frame, which frame is driven by a fifth reversible motor, the frame being adapted to lower the scoop to ground level, and to raise the scoop to a position above the body of the vehicle after it has taken on a load.

The management of the various components of the little machine is interesting to a child (and to his father) and requires interesting coordination, particularly because the vehicle is desirably in motion, forward or backward, during steering manipulation. The successful carrying out of the desired transfer of material is not a routinely simple matter, but one in which mistakes vcan readily be made through manipulation of switches at the wrong time, to the wrong extent, and in the wrong direction.

The construction and arrangement is such that perfect manipulation of switches can produce essentially perfect results, ridiculously imperfect manipulation of switches can produce ludicrous results, and all intermediate manipulations can produce various intermediate, imperfect results.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a simulated articulated front loader embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the several motors and showing diagrammatically an arrangement through which all the motors are controlled;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of the articulated front loader, the scoop being shown in a scooping attitude in broken lines, and in carrying attitude in full lines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing chiefly the rear section of the machine;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing particularly the means through which the scoop is raised and swung rearward after loading;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, showing particularly the connection between the front and rear sections of the vehicle; and

FIG. 7 is an electrical diagram showing the source of electrical energy and the utilization of the energy, through a control station, in carrying out the various operating details of the machine.

The illustrative machine 10 comprises a forward section 12 on which a scoop 13 is mounted and a rear section 14 connected to the forward section 12 with provision for relative rotary movement about the axis of a vertically disposed shaft 16. Such relative rotary movement is limited by stops 17. The shaft 16 extends through fixed portions 18 of the rear section 14 and a laterally tiltable portion 20 of the front section 12. The

tiltable portion 20 is connected to the main body of the front section through a horizontal stub shaft 22 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 The portion 20 is made tiltable so that the front and rear sections 12 and 14 may tilt relative to one another in accommodating to the contour of irregular terrain.

The forward section 12 is supported from the ground by a pair of wheels 24 which are fast on a transverse shaft 26, while the rear section 14 is supported from the ground by a pair of wheels 28 which are fast on a transverse shaft 30. The facts that the wheels 24 are fast on a common shaft and that the wheels 28 are fast on a common shaft introduce some slight difi'iculty in the matter of steering. This is not a serious drawback, however, because the machine has little weight, even when loaded, and because the vehicle can be caused to be in motion at the time when the front and rear sections are turned relative to one another for changing the directions of travel. This eases the resistance to such turning.

The scoop 13 is carried at the forward end of a long curved frame 32, which frame is pivotally mounted, on transversely aligned bearings 34. As shown, the pivotal support for the frame is provided directly over the shaft 26, but this is not an essential relationship.

The scoop 13 includes ears 36 through which it is pivotally mounted on a shaft 31, which shaft is mounted in the forward extremity of frame 32. FIG. 2 is a purely diagrammatic view indicating the general principles and the locations of the driving motors and the controls therefore, while FIG. 7 shows a practical and effective wiring diagram.

A small (illustratively 6 volt) dry cell 38 is provided to supply motor driving electrical energy to several driving motors Ma through Me, inclusive, through.

switches 46a to 46e, respectively, which switches form elements of a common, compact control unit 40. Mechanical features of some of the structures driven by these motors will be described in detail a little farther on, but for the moment reference will be had to FIGS. 2 and 7 for an understanding of the circuitry illustratively shown.

One terminal of the battery 38 is connected to a common lead 42 and the other terminal is connected to a common lead 44. The lead 42 is connected to one pair of terminals associated with a double pole switch 46a which is normally biased to an open position. The lead 44 is connected to another pair of terminals associated with the same switch. Opposite ends of the switch are insulated from one another. The switch 46a may be swung counterclockwise to a position in which it drives motor Ma in one direction, or it may be swung clockwise to a position in which it drives motor Ma in the opposite direction. The electrical leads shown are to the motor armatures, the fields being desirably provided by permanent magnets.

It will be readily apparent from an examination of FIG. 6 that switches 46b to 46e may be similarly actuated for driving motors Mb to Me, selectively, in opposite directions. Accordingly, corresponding switch and motor elements have been designated by the same reference numerals with appropriate postscripts b to e applied, and no further detailed description of the several motors and the motor controls will be given.

The circuitry shown is purely illustrative. Any compact, operative unit comprising five reversible motors with suitable control switches can serve satisfactorily.

It should be noted, however, that the battery and all five switches are desirably united in a single, light and compact power and switch unit, and that all the motors are directly mounted on the vehicle in close association with the respective mechanisms which they individually operate.

Motor Ma drives the front wheels 24 through a drive train 25 and the shaft 26, the drive train being enclosed in a housing 27 to protect it from mud and dirt. Motor Mb drives the rear wheels 28 through a similarly housed drive train (not shown) and the shaft 30. Since the front and rear pairs of wheels should always be driven simultaneously and in the same direction, the switches 46a and 46b have been indicated by broken line 54 as mechanically connected to one another for operation in unison. The motors Ma and Mb are geared a little differently, however, sothat the rear wheels will turn a little faster than the front wheels. This has been found advantageous for steering purposes.

The point should be noted that individually insulated branch wires 47a to 47c and 49a to 49e, running from the control unit to the vehicle, are confined in a common sheath so that the vehicle cannot be fouled up in its travels by a tangle of wires.

The reversible motor Mc is designed to turn the rear section 14 relative to the front section 12 about the axis of vertical shaft 16. The axis of the shaft 16 is desirably located midway between the axes of the front and rear wheels. The motor Mc drives a transverse shaft 56, mounted on the rear section 14, clockwise or counterclockwise at the will of the operator. All of the switches 46a to 46c are normally spring biased to their open positions.

A cord 58 attached to the right rear portion of forward section 12 is passed through a guiding eye 60 affixed to the forward right corner portion of the rear section 12, is wrapped clockwise around the shaft 56 and is attached at its rear end to said shaft, being drawn rearward onto the shaft by rotation of the shaft in a clockwise direction as viewed from the lower, righthand end of the shaft in FIG. 4 and paid out in a forward direction by reverse rotation of the shaft. Between the eye 60 and the shaft 56 the cord is passed through an end loop of a tensioning spring 59.

A similar cord 62, attached to the left rear portion of forward section 12, is passed through a guiding eye 64 affixed to the forward left corner portion of the rear section 12, is wrapped counterclockwise around the shaft 56, and is passed between the eye and the shaft through an end loop of a tensioning spring 65. The cord is drawn rearward onto the shaft by rotation of the shaft in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the lower, right-hand end of the shaft in FIG. 4, and is paid out in a forward direction by reverse rotation of the shaft. Thus, clockwise rotation of shaft 56 reels in cord 58 and pays out cord 62, tending to turn rear section 14 counterclockwise relative to section 12, while counterclockwise rotation of shaft 56 reels in cord 62 and pays out cord 58, tending to turn rear section 14 clockwise relative to section 12.

The scoop 13, shown in FIG. 3 in carrying position, has its center of mass located well in front of the ears 36 so that the weight of the scoop tends always to cause the scoop to tend to turn forward toward scooping or dumping position. This tendency is assisted by springs 71 (FIG. 1).

A cord 72 is connected to the upper rear edge of the scoop at 74 and controls the attitude of the scoop. The cord is passed over a pulley 76 carried by the frame 32 and under a small pulley 78 which is coaxial with the frame support. The rear end of the cord 72 is attached to, and wrapped upon, a transverse shaft 80. The shaft 80 is driven by motor Md in one direction to wind cord 72 onto the shaft and in the other direction to pay out the cord. So long as the motor Md is idle the attitude of the scoop will remain substantially uniform, but the scoop will respond to paying out of the cord 72 by the shaft 80 by turning counterclockwise toward dumping position, and to winding in of the cord on the shaft 80 by turning clockwise toward the scooping or carrying position.

The motor Me controls raising and lowering of the frame 32 and hence the bodily raising and lowering of the scoop. This operation is an exacting one since the battery, of limited power, may be required both to rotate about its own axis and to tilt. The construction and arrangement are such that the drive to the frame is an irreversible one. That is to say, the drive mechanism can drive the scoop carrying frame, but the frame can never drive the mechanism referred to, no matter how heavily the scoop may be loaded. The motor Me (see FIG. 5) is supported upon a swinging platform 82, the platform being secured on the lower end of a rod 84 which can swing fore and aft about a transverse horizontal member 86. The motor to raise a substantial load and the frame driving member is required both to rotate and an output train of the motor comprising gears 88, 90, 92 and 94 drive a screw 96 which is concentric with the rod or shaft 84. The motor output is applied to drive the screw 96 about the screw axis in either direction desired.

A rockable crossbar 98 extends between the side members of the frame 32 and has a nut 100 affixed to its underside, midway of its length, through which the screw 96 is threaded.

The screw is driven in one direction to raise the frame 32 and the scoop 13 carried by it, and in the opposite direction to lower the frame 32 and the scoop 13. As the screw is turned, driving the nut up or down, it is rocked, together with the motor Me, the platform 82 and the shaft 84, about the axis of member 86. The fact that the bar 98 is rockable, enables the nut 100 to accommodate to this rocking motion.

Two or more of the switches may be rendered active simultaneously whenever desired.

In use, the unloaded vehicle will be driven near to a pile of sand with the front end faced toward the pile and brought to rest. The scoop is then tilted to scooping position and lowered to ground level. The vehicle is then driven forward far enough to fill the scoop. The scoop is then tilted to carrying position after which it raised to any available level desired for transportation to a desired point of discharge. The transfer of the material will normally involve backing, turning and forward movements of the vehicle. At the discharge station the scoop may be lowered and then tilted forward to dumping position. The vehicle is then returned for the picking up of a fresh load.

If the cable from the control unit to the vehicle is long enough the operator can remain in a fixed location if he desires to do so. Alternatively, the cable may be made short and the operator may move with the vehicle as required, never, however, putting the cable under tension.

The foregoing description of use is merely illustrative. It may be varied in many ways, if desired.

l have described what I believe to be the best embodiment of my invention. What I desire to cover by letters patent is set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle adapted for picking up, transporting and dumping material comprising, in combination,

a. front and rear wheeled, vehicle sections;

b. driving means for the vehicle wheels;

c. steering means for relatively turning the front and rear sections;

a raising and lowering scoop carrier pivotally mounted on one of said sections;

e. a scoop and scoop tilting means mounted on said carrier;

f. distinct reversible electric motor means on the vehicle constructed and arranged for selectively driving either individually or simultaneously the vehicle wheels, the steering means, the scoop carrier, and the scoop tilting means, each in either of two opposite directions; v

g. an electric battery remote from the vehicle for driving said motors; and

a remote control unit interposed between and electrically connected to, the battery and said motor and constructed and arranged to control the operation, including the direction of operation of each of said motor means.

2. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the battery, itself, is incorporated in the remote control unit as an integral part thereof.

3. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which all the connections from the remote control unit to the vehicle are combined into a single cable.

4. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the control unit includes means for compelling the front section wheels and the rear section wheels of the vehicle to be at all times either at rest simultaneously, or harmoniously activated in unison.

5. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the steering means includes a motor and a transversely extending shaft mounted on a first one of the vehicle sections and driven by said motor, cords at opposite sides of the vehicle each connected atone end to the second of the vehicle sections, wrapped in opposite directions around opposite ends of said shaft and then connected under tension to said first vehicle section.

6. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 5 in which the connection under tension of each cord to the first of said vehicle sections is effected through a tensioning coil spring.

7. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the carrier-driving motor together with a carrier-driving train of mechanism driven by the motor is mounted on the carrier-supporting vehicle section with capacity for fore and aft movement about an axis parallel to, but well removed from, the rocking axis of the carrier, and in which said driving train includes a long screw that extends upward through the carrier, and threaded means through which the screw is threaded, said threaded means being mounted on the carrier with capacity for rocking movement about an axis parallel to the rocking axis of the carrier and the rocking axis of the motor and the train of mechanism driven by the motor.

8 A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the scoop is biased by its own weight to a dumping position and such bias is augmented by spring means interposed between the carrier and the scoop.

9. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the scoop tilting means includes the scoop tilting motor means mounted on a section of the vehicle, a cord connecting said motor means with the scoop, and means guiding said cord from the scoop to the scoop tilting motor in a path which extends near to the tilting axis of the carrier.

10. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 9, in which the cord which connects the scoop and the scoop tilting motor is held taut at all times by virtue of the fact that the scoop is so mounted that it is at all times biased by its own weight toward dumping position. 

1. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle adapted for picking up, transporting and dumping material comprising, in combination, a. front and rear wheeled, vehicle sections; b. driving means for the vehicle wheels; c. steering means for relatively turning the front and rear sections; d. a raising and lowering scoop carrier pivotally mounted on one of said sections; e. a scoop and scoop tilting means mounted on sAid carrier; f. distinct reversible electric motor means on the vehicle constructed and arranged for selectively driving either individually or simultaneously the vehicle wheels, the steering means, the scoop carrier, and the scoop tilting means, each in either of two opposite directions; g. an electric battery remote from the vehicle for driving said motors; and h. a remote control unit interposed between and electrically connected to, the battery and said motor and constructed and arranged to control the operation, including the direction of operation of each of said motor means.
 2. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the battery, itself, is incorporated in the remote control unit as an integral part thereof.
 3. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which all the connections from the remote control unit to the vehicle are combined into a single cable.
 4. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the control unit includes means for compelling the front section wheels and the rear section wheels of the vehicle to be at all times either at rest simultaneously, or harmoniously activated in unison.
 5. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the steering means includes a motor and a transversely extending shaft mounted on a first one of the vehicle sections and driven by said motor, cords at opposite sides of the vehicle each connected at one end to the second of the vehicle sections, wrapped in opposite directions around opposite ends of said shaft and then connected under tension to said first vehicle section.
 6. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 5 in which the connection under tension of each cord to the first of said vehicle sections is effected through a tensioning coil spring.
 7. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the carrier-driving motor together with a carrier-driving train of mechanism driven by the motor is mounted on the carrier-supporting vehicle section with capacity for fore and aft movement about an axis parallel to, but well removed from, the rocking axis of the carrier, and in which said driving train includes a long screw that extends upward through the carrier, and threaded means through which the screw is threaded, said threaded means being mounted on the carrier with capacity for rocking movement about an axis parallel to the rocking axis of the carrier and the rocking axis of the motor and the train of mechanism driven by the motor. 8 A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the scoop is biased by its own weight to a dumping position and such bias is augmented by spring means interposed between the carrier and the scoop.
 9. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the scoop tilting means includes the scoop tilting motor means mounted on a section of the vehicle, a cord connecting said motor means with the scoop, and means guiding said cord from the scoop to the scoop tilting motor in a path which extends near to the tilting axis of the carrier.
 10. A remotely controlled, electrically operated toy vehicle as set forth in claim 9, in which the cord which connects the scoop and the scoop tilting motor is held taut at all times by virtue of the fact that the scoop is so mounted that it is at all times biased by its own weight toward dumping position. 